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Title: Trichodesmium, a globally significant marine cyanobacterium

Abstract

Planktonic marine cyanobacteria of the genus Trichodesmium occur throughout the oligotrophic tropical and subtropical oceans. Their unusual adaptations, from the molecular to the macroscopic level, contribute to their ecological success and biogeochemical importance. Trichodesmium fixes nitrogen gas (N{sub 2}) under fully aerobic conditions while photosynthetically evolving oxygen. Its temporal pattern of N{sub 2} fixation results from an enclogenous daily cycle that confines N{sub 2} fixation to daylight hours. Trichodesmium colonies provide a unique pelagic habitat that supports a complex assemblage of consortial organisms. These colonies often represent a large fraction of the plant biomass in tropical, oligotrophic waters and contribute substantially to primary production. N{sub 2} fixation by Trichodesmium is likely a major input to the marine and global nitrogen cycle.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Maryland, Solomons, MD (United States)
  2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY (United States)
  3. Univ. of North Carolina, Morehead City, NC (United States); and others
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
530886
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 276; Journal Issue: 5316; Other Information: PBD: 23 May 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CYANOBACTERIA; GLOBAL ASPECTS; BIOCHEMISTRY; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; SEAS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS

Citation Formats

Capone, D G, Zehr, J P, and Paerl, H W. Trichodesmium, a globally significant marine cyanobacterium. United States: N. p., 1997. Web. doi:10.1126/science.276.5316.1221.
Capone, D G, Zehr, J P, & Paerl, H W. Trichodesmium, a globally significant marine cyanobacterium. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.276.5316.1221
Capone, D G, Zehr, J P, and Paerl, H W. 1997. "Trichodesmium, a globally significant marine cyanobacterium". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.276.5316.1221.
@article{osti_530886,
title = {Trichodesmium, a globally significant marine cyanobacterium},
author = {Capone, D G and Zehr, J P and Paerl, H W},
abstractNote = {Planktonic marine cyanobacteria of the genus Trichodesmium occur throughout the oligotrophic tropical and subtropical oceans. Their unusual adaptations, from the molecular to the macroscopic level, contribute to their ecological success and biogeochemical importance. Trichodesmium fixes nitrogen gas (N{sub 2}) under fully aerobic conditions while photosynthetically evolving oxygen. Its temporal pattern of N{sub 2} fixation results from an enclogenous daily cycle that confines N{sub 2} fixation to daylight hours. Trichodesmium colonies provide a unique pelagic habitat that supports a complex assemblage of consortial organisms. These colonies often represent a large fraction of the plant biomass in tropical, oligotrophic waters and contribute substantially to primary production. N{sub 2} fixation by Trichodesmium is likely a major input to the marine and global nitrogen cycle.},
doi = {10.1126/science.276.5316.1221},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/530886}, journal = {Science},
number = 5316,
volume = 276,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 23 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Fri May 23 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}